The Town of Bashaw delegates an Assessor annually to prepare assessments. The Assessor complies with the Standard of Assessment Regulation set out in the Municipal Government Act. Property taxes are based on the assessed value of the property.
An Assessment Roll is prepared annually and is available for inspection.
You can also view the document at the Town of Bashaw Municipal Office.
For more in-depth information, visit the Alberta Municipal Affairs Property Assessment and Taxation page.
What is an Assessment?
Property taxes are calculated in proportion to the value of their corresponding real estate property. Determining the value of a property for taxation purposes is known as assessment. Assessment is a tool to distribute the tax burden throughout a municipality equitably.
What is Market Value?
Market Value is the most probable sale price of a property in a competitive and open market. Economic conditions within the local real estate market influence the selling price of a property. To ensure fairness, all property tax assessments are based on the market value of the property as of July 1 of the previous year and on the physical condition of the property as of December 31 of the previous year.
How is the Assessment Determined?
Professional assessors evaluate properties based on several variables, including: age, lot and building size, building features and finishes, construction quality, and property location. Assessors consider many of the same factors a real estate professional would use when determining the value of a property. Assessed values are established from property sales, as well as development & construction costs.
To ensure proper valuation practices are followed, every year, provincial auditors review assessments prepared by the Town of Bashaw.
Please note that the taxation year runs from January to December each year. The annual tax/assessment notice is mailed at the end of May, and fees are due at the end of July.
If you choose to appeal your assessment, you must complete the Assessment Review Board Complaint Form and deliver it to the Town of Bashaw Municipal Office with applicable fees within the appeal period.
Continue reading for information on appeals.
Your Assessment Notice
Your Tax Assessment Notice will include the following and additional information:
- Civic and legal address: the location of the assessed property
- Assessment Class: residential, non-residential, machinery & equipment, vacant land, farmland
- Name & mailing address: of the assessed person(s)
- Assessed value: the value of your property for tax purposes
- “Notice Mailed” Date
- “Final Date for Complaints” (Assessment Appeals)
Assessment Appeals
The Government of Alberta has introduced a single system of assessment complaints for the entire province beginning in 2010, as per amendments to the Municipal Government Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. M-26.
There is now a 60 day time period between the mailing of your tax/assessment notice and the date complaints are due. Use this time to speak to your assessor. Assessors are able to make changes to your assessment before you file a complaint.
Even if you choose to appeal your assessment, you must pay your taxes before the deadline to avoid being charged late payment penalties. If the Assessment Review Board alters your assessment, the Town will adjust your tax account.
An assessment appeal is not an appeal for lower taxes. Section 460 of the Municipal Government Act states that an appeal may only be against any of the information contained on the assessment notice. The board is prohibited by statute from hearing appeals against taxation.
You are entitled to appeal your assessment and explain why you think the information shown on your assessment is incorrect, unfair or inequitable. If you wish to appeal your assessment, please fill out the Assessment Review Board Complaint form and ensure that it and the applicable appeal fees (see below) are received by the Assistant Clerk of the Assessment Review Board of the Town of Bashaw within the 60 day appeal period. If you choose to hire an agent to represent you in your appeal, an Assessment Complaint Agent Authorization form must also be completed and submitted with your complaint form.
Assessment Appeal Fees
|
Category of Complaint |
Complaint Fee |
| Residential – 3 or fewer dwellings; farmland | $50 |
| Residential – 4 or more dwellings | $650 |
| Non-residential | $650 |
| Business Tax | $50 |
| Tax Notices (other than business tax) | $35 |
| Linear Property – Power Generation | $650/facility |
| Linear Property – Other | $650/LPAUID |
| Equalized Assessment | $650 |
Assessment Review Board
The purpose of the assessment review board is to ensure that there has been a correct, fair, and equitable assessment.
Property Assessment Notice Information Sheet
Assessment Information Request
As a property owner, you are entitled to view or receive sufficient information about your property and a summary of any assessment in accordance with sections 299 and 300 of the Municipal Government Act.
As a service to our ratepayers, we strive to assist you in learning about your assessment. Below are a few of the resources we recommend reviewing if you have questions about your assessment:
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Review your Assessment Notice to ensure that:
- Your name, address and school support are correct;
- The property classification (residential, farmland, non-residential) correctly describes your property.
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Complete an Assessment Value and Property Characteristic Search. This search allows you to view basic assessment information relating to any residential property in the City. You may compare your assessment to the assessments of other properties similar in size, age, quality, condition and location.
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Speak with an Assessor. If you require further clarification on your assessment value, please call the Town of Bashaw Assessor @ 403-309-4190.
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If after completing the above steps you still feel the information provided is not sufficient, a 299 or 300 request can be made in writing directly to the Assessment department using the following forms:
2018 PROPERTY ASSESSMENT REQUEST 299
2018 PROPERTY ASSESSMENT REQUEST 300
For more in depth information, you can read this guide prepared by the Government of Alberta.
Additional Resources
Additional information regarding taxation and assessments can be found in the Matters Relating to Assessment and Taxation Regulation document and the Guide to Property Assessment and Taxation in Alberta.
If you have any further questions about assessment and taxation legislation or processes, please contact the Municipal Affairs Assessment Services Branch at or by phone at 780-422-1377.
